Learn to cook the French way in Mayenne

In the heart of rural Mayenne, Walnut Grove Cookery School is an intimate retreat where you can enjoy hands-on tuition with chef Eric Duvin, as well as market visits, regional tastings and unforgettable dinners.

Set in a 19th-century farmhouse in the rolling countryside of Mayenne, close to the borders of Normandy and Brittany, The Walnut Grove Cookery School offers something far removed from the standard “cookery holiday”. This is an immersive, small-group culinary retreat where guests spend their days cooking, tasting, learning and exploring French food culture alongside chef Eric Duvin.

With a maximum of just six participants per retreat, the experience is intentionally personal and hands-on. Every morning begins in the kitchen, where Eric guides guests through the foundations of classical French cuisine: knife skills, sauces, stocks, butchery, pastry, bread-making and plating techniques, all taught in English and adapted to different levels of experience. Rather than simply following recipes, participants are encouraged to understand why techniques work and how to recreate them confidently at home.

Eric brings more than 40 years of professional experience to the school. He began his culinary training in Paris at the age of 15 before going on to work in private kitchens in London, including Badminton House, seat of the Duke of Beaufort, and the German Ambassador’s residence. At Walnut Grove, that classical training is combined with the slower rhythm of rural France: market visits, produce from the gardens, long lunches and multi-course dinners shared around the farmhouse table.

BEYOND THE KITCHEN

The school’s signature Culinary Adventure retreat has expanded for 2027 into a seven-day, six-night experience, with several new additions. Alongside the intensive cooking programme, guests will take part in a dedicated macaron masterclass focusing on the precision required for successful pâtisserie. The updated itinerary includes a full-day excursion to Mont-Saint-Michel, allowing participants to explore one of France’s most iconic sites while discovering Normandy’s culinary traditions.

Another highlight is a guided tasting at a traditional Calvados producer, introducing guests to the region’s celebrated apple brandy and the heritage behind it. The programme also includes visits to local markets, cheese tastings and lessons in seasonality, helping guests connect French cooking to the landscape and traditions that shape it.

Evenings are as memorable as the classes themselves. On the first night, guests gather for champagne, canapés and a six-course dinner prepared by Chef Eric; on the other evenings, they can enjoy five-course dinners featuring dishes they have prepared with Eric’s guidance. It is a week designed not only to sharpen technical skills, but also to build confidence and deepen understanding of French cuisine.

For the festive season, The Walnut Grove offers an intimate Christmas in France experience with Chef Eric, limited to just six guests. The week-long itinerary combines hands-on festive cooking at The Walnut Grove with excursions to Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo and the illuminated medieval streets of Laval. Guests learn how to plan and create a French Christmas table, with a focus on technique, organisation and hosting, before gathering for shared meals and relaxed evenings together. The experience also includes time in Paris, with visits to legendary culinary institutions including Dehillerin and La Grande Épicerie, as well as lunches and dinners at classic addresses such as Le Pied de Cochon, La Fontaine de Mars and Le Grand Véfour. Private chauffeur transfers, small-group teaching and direct access to Chef Eric throughout make it a particularly personal way to experience France at Christmas.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you can’t make it to France, don’t despair! Chef Eric also runs the fabulous online cookery school Le Gourmet French Chef. Choose your course and create authentic French dishes chez vous!